This study will continue our efforts to develop tinnitus management protocols for Veterans. More specifically, this study will develop and evaluate an adaptation of Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) for use as a telephone-based program for Veterans and military personnel who have experienced TBI. Adaptation of PTM as a telephone-based program has the potential of providing needed tinnitus services to Veterans with and without TBI for a relatively small cost and with minimal impact on individual VA hospitals.

Telephone Tinnitus Education (TTE) is a novel home-based telehealth program. TTI intervention involves a series of seven telephone appointments, conducted at approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks, and 3 and 6 months after enrollment is finalized. Telephone education is provided by the Study Psychologist at weeks 1, 3, and 5, and by the Study Audiologist at weeks 2 and 4, and months 3 and 6.

Other Name: TTI

Arm 2

Wait List Control

Procedure: Wait List Control

Wait List Control subjects will receive TTE after completing the 6-month questionnaires. Participants assigned to Wait List Control will be instructed that they are allowed to receive any services for their tinnitus that are available to them, and that they will receive TTE following completion of the 3- and 6-month questionnaires.

Detailed Description:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is strongly associated with tinnitus. Tinnitus management for Veterans and military members with TBI has become a critical concern. Our research has focused on developing effective, evidence-based methods of tinnitus management for Veterans. These efforts led to the development of Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM). We are completing a pilot study to adapt PTM to meet the unique tinnitus management needs of Veterans and military members with TBI using a novel home-based telehealth program called Telephone Tinnitus Education (TTE). Preliminary data analyses indicate that TTE is effective. The present study will modify the TTE program in accordance with pilot study findings and evaluate the modified TTE using a randomized clinical trial design.

The 4-year study will be based at the VA National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR). TTE will be implemented and evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. Qualified candidates will be randomized to receive either immediate-TTE or Wait-List Control (WLC). All subjects will complete questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-baseline. The WLC group will receive TTE after completing the 6-month questionnaires. The primary outcome measure will be the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

TTE intervention involves a series of seven telephone appointments, conducted at approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks, and 3 and 6 months after enrollment is finalized. Telephone education is provided by the Study Psychologist at weeks 1, 3, and 5, and by the Study Audiologist at weeks 2 and 4, and months 3 and 6.

TTE has the potential of providing needed tinnitus services to Veterans and active military personnel across the country for a relatively small cost and with minimal impact on individual VA hospitals.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion criteria include:

"clinically significant" tinnitus according to the initial score on the THS (minimum total score of 4 on section A; if score is 4-6, one item must be at least 3);

demonstrates understanding of the requirements of the study (based on adequate responses to the questions by the RC that assess capacity-to-consent);

has had a hearing test within the past 2 years (and was fitted with hearing aids if appropriate); and

motivated and capable of participating (including ability to communicate over the telephone in English).

Exclusion Criteria:

Callers who do not meet all of these criteria will be excluded from study participation.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01129141